Give this one a listen and you know that this is the new dead sound they were looking for. Brent is all over this Getaway. Check out Big River for another example. Brent showcase. Love these Alabama openers. First night segues into Promised Land, tonight into the Greatest Story Ever Told. This new era dead still finding its way, some curious choices, but all told I dig it a lot. Can imagine some might've been less than enthused, but I think the sequence to close the set, highlighting Go to Heaven, is great: Easy to Love You->Althea->Sailor->Saint.
I hear ya, sugareesupreme: Some slower, mellower playing throughout this show. But it's not sleepy and in general it works. The band is focused. Example is Cold Rain and Slow. I mean, Snow! Althea is a sweet groove. Dig it. At any rate, this show is really all about the second set.
Second set pops out the gates with a 17 minute Shakedown opener. Headyversion love by grendel: "A funk-laden but more laid-back, groovier vibe marks this excellent entry from Chicago. Notable for A+ vocals & harmonies and Bobby shines in end jam!" Solid start to an excellent, nearly two hour set. Samson that follows bring the heat. The 60+ minutes that follow are great, must-listen: Grendel, again, on Samson: "Possibly best-ever of the Brent era. Bob preaches fire & brimstone and Jerry shreds the living daylights out of every jam. Serious MUST listen version." It's followed by a beautiful Ship of Fools. Some discussion on headyversion that it might be the "best post '77 version." Whoa! Then comes He's Gone, with Jerry and Brent trading licks toward the end. Phil is really prominent in the jam, too- getting ready for Other One. Bobby wasn't kidding: At the start of He's Gone, he said "We're gonna beg your indulgence and do another semi-slow song, but it won't stay slow forever." With the avalanche unleashed by Phil and co. at the start of o1 you know he's not messing around. 17-minute absolute savage version, especially enchanting near end. Spacey and dark as it segues into drums. Short drums, but the drums theme continues from the end of o1 through to space. Segue into Black Peter. This whole jam sequence starting with he's gone is excellent. To boot, after that you get another solid 30 minutes of music- with a double encore.
In short, this is a fantastic show to close out the run. They would return in August '80 for another three-nighter. It's a good one! These runs seem to just keep getting better. This one's a scorcher, my favorite of this run. Five stars on the strength of the music, alone. Not to mention, this fantastic SBD.

I don't usually write specifically about an individual show, so much as the impression that it makes on me, but this is actually a quite extraordinary effort. There is an elevated energy running through the band that is evident throughout the show - Jerry even goes a little scat in Black Peter - making it well worth listening to. The jam from He's Gone to the Other One is particularly interesting. It might be the best show if its era without a scarlet > fire or estimated > eyes.

all in all this is a good show that is well played.It started off kind of slow but by the end of the first set is started to spark.Set 2 is where the action is and a funky Shakedown gets the set going .He's Gone,The other One,and Black Peter are highlights.

I don't know if I have ever encountered a show that slowed the music down for soooooooo much of both sets! Check out the 11+ minute Althea, just note after note after note. The Shakedown is just as mellow, Brent throws in some of Cape Cod-style funk and then Sampson rocks, of course. But Jerry's back with Ship of Fools into He's Gone. The Other One brings it up a bit, but out of drums into Black Peter! Jerry, what are you telling us
It's a great show, beautiful Mr. Miller sound. Just a totally unique vibe to this show. Jerry was. going. real. slow. Love it!
MYSTERY OF THE 11 MINUTE ALTHEA SOLVED!!!
I love this song - I was there when they began playing it and I stayed through the end. Hunter/Garcia, 'nuff said. My earlier comment noted how sloooowww this show runs, but how to explain an 8 or 9 minute song lasting 11 minutes?. I took another listen. After crushing the "and forgetting the love we bring" closing line, the Boys wander back into a jam that leads ol' Jerry back to the microphone to repeat the "There are things you can replace, and others you cannot" stanza. It's pretty funny because the first time through, he sang "things we can replace and others you cannot". Second time through, he uses the "we" both times. Guess he wasn't finished taking it out for the test drive. The rest of the band never misses a beat after the repeated stanza, Jerry sings the last two stanzas again and the song reaches its beautiful conclusion.
All things considered, it's remarkable that stuff like this didn't happen more often (like all the time). Think of all that energy popping on stage - how to keep it all together?

Now put this in your ear and smoke it. Yeah, much love for 73 and 74 but in 78 and 79 there are some burners. This is one of them. Brent especially is on the money tonight, not much Bob screaming and Jerry is running up and down the frets like a man on a mission. I do not review many shows, but having seen the Dead over 100 times, and missing those days like crazy sometimes feel the need to poke my head out of the sand. Kids, listen to this and smile. And of course Mr. Miller, wherever you are, thank you! Your work has made my day countless times. Take care all and God Bless the Grateful Dead.